My friend Siu’s dear mother, Mrs Chan, 2014 by Rod McNicol

Artist's statement

Oi Chan was born into a poor rural family in China. As a daughter, her arrival was met with much disapproval. Her mother told her they considered killing her, but her father thought she was so sweet they couldn’t go through with it. She was allowed to live but never felt she had the right to a life of her own. Oi started working aged five and went on to become a valued member of her village. Migrating to Australia in the 1970s, Oi raised a vibrant family here. She still only speaks a little English, but what a survivor!